![Do You Owe Taxes On Money You Lost in Your Scam? [Updated] - 2014 - on SCARS Institute Encyclopedia of Scams RomanceScamsNOW.com -](https://romancescamsnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/fatca.png)
SCARS Institute’s Encyclopedia of Scams™ Published Continuously for 25 Years
Nigerian Dating Scammer Kazeem Owonla Arrested Kazeem Owonla Arrested In The U.S.
NEWS : Montana Attorney General Impersonator Arrested in Georgia
Kazeem Owonla Arrested After Impersonating Montana Attorney General In Online Dating Scam
A notorious Nigerian Scammer made the mistake of stealing the Montana Attorney General’s photo for his scams, and then visiting the U.S.
Gotcha You Bastard!!
Kazeem Owonla (a.k.a. John Tony Hagan)
Ex-Nigerian Dating Scammer!
According to Fox TV Montana:
MISSOULA –
A Nigerian man is arrested after impersonating Montana’s Attorney General in an online scam that spans across the country.
Authorities apprehended Kazeem Owonla, 44, Wednesday morning in Atlanta, Georgia.
Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department detectives say an investigation revealed a woman from the Syracuse, Indiana, area wired a large sum of money to Owonla.
The suspect had reportedly used the alias name of “John Tony Hagan” during his contact over the internet.
He used a non-authorized photo of Montana Attorney General Tim Fox as his profile picture during conversations with the victim.
They say he is also suspected of scamming another woman in Ohio, and potentially a third.
Owonla is currently awaiting transportation back to Indiana, where he will be held on a $150,000 bond.
According to the Huffington Post:
Montana Attorney General’s Photo Used In Dating scam
A Nigerian resident faces charges that he set up an online dating profile using a photo of Montana’s attorney general and falsified stories about overseas business problems to scam several women.
Felony charges against Kazeem Owonla were filed last month in Indiana, where one woman reported sending more than $100,000 to a man who represented himself as John Tony Hagan, an electrical engineer who was working in Egypt.
Owonla, 44, was arrested Wednesday when he got off an airplane in Atlanta and waived extradition to Indiana Thursday during a hearing in Clayton County Magistrate Court. Clayton County records did not indicate if Owonla has an attorney.
His bond in Indiana is set at $150,000 cash, enough to cover the women’s losses, Kosciusko County prosecutors said.
The Indiana woman who first complained said she met “Hagan” online in January 2014 and by the next month he was asking her for money.
The woman said Hagen told her he needed money to replace his stolen tools. She said she sent him $5,600. The woman also responded to requests for $12,000 to pay his workers and for $25,000 to replace money that was supposedly stolen when his interpreter was stabbed after they made a bank withdrawal. In June, the woman provided investigators with receipts showing she wired or made bank transfers totaling more than $100,000 to the man she believed was Hagan, court records said.
“It got pretty intense fairly quickly,” the woman told WNDU-TV in July on the condition the station not use her name because she was embarrassed that she fell for the scam. “Lots of passion and attention.”
A deputy found the bank transfers from the woman were ending up in an account owned by Owonla, who was in the U.S. on a visitor’s visa last year.
The investigation also turned up a $1,550 bank transfer form an Ohio woman who told a similar story. She met a man online who identified himself as Henry Tesone, an electrical engineer in South Africa who was headed to Egypt to work. He also used stolen tools and other similar reasons to get the Ohio woman to send him a total of $11,590.
The deputy’s investigation turned up a third bank transfer of nearly $8,200 from a woman who may be another victim. He is still trying to locate her.
The photo used on the Hagan profile was taken from Montana Attorney General Tim Fox’s campaign website without his permission.
In August, Fox’s spokesman, John Barnes, said the attorney general was upset his image was used in the same. He noted the con artist chose the photo of someone who oversees consumer protection and warns citizens of scams.
Online Romance Scammer Kazeem Owonla’s Photo Album:
-/ 30 /-
What do you think about this?
Please share your thoughts in a comment below!
Article Rating
Table of Contents
POPULAR ARTICLES
Rapid Report Scammers
In the U.S. & Canada
U.S. & Canada Suicide Lifeline 988
ARTICLE META
RATE THIS ARTICLE?
LEAVE A COMMENT?
Recent Comments
On Other Articles
on Financial Recovery – Avoid Money Triggers – Perspective on Money for Scam Victims – 2023 [UPDATED 2025]: “This article is excellent. This is something I needed to read. Thank you!” Jun 18, 16:26
on Scam Victim Apathy – Scams Are Somebody Else’s Problem: “This is a concept I hadn’t considered before. And the Tall Poppy Syndrome is something I’ve not heard of. I…” Jun 17, 13:17
on After The Scam – Victims Frequently Engage In Self-Defeating Behaviors: “Thank you for this article! I have always been my worst critic. Then it all just spirals down into self…” Jun 17, 10:48
Important Information for New Scam Victims
- Please visit www.ScamVictimsSupport.org – a SCARS Website for New Scam Victims & Sextortion Victims
- Enroll in FREE SCARS Scam Survivor’s School now at www.SCARSeducation.org
- Please visit www.ScamPsychology.org – to more fully understand the psychological concepts involved in scams and scam victim recovery
If you are looking for local trauma counselors please visit counseling.AgainstScams.org or join SCARS for our counseling/therapy benefit: membership.AgainstScams.org
If you need to speak with someone now, you can dial 988 or find phone numbers for crisis hotlines all around the world here: www.opencounseling.com/suicide-hotlines
A Note About Labeling!
We often use the term ‘scam victim’ in our articles, but this is a convenience to help those searching for information in search engines like Google. It is just a convenience and has no deeper meaning. If you have come through such an experience, YOU are a Survivor! It was not your fault. You are not alone! Axios!
A Question of Trust
At the SCARS Institute, we invite you to do your own research on the topics we speak about and publish, Our team investigates the subject being discussed, especially when it comes to understanding the scam victims-survivors experience. You can do Google searches but in many cases, you will have to wade through scientific papers and studies. However, remember that biases and perspectives matter and influence the outcome. Regardless, we encourage you to explore these topics as thoroughly as you can for your own awareness.
Statement About Victim Blaming
Some of our articles discuss various aspects of victims. This is both about better understanding victims (the science of victimology) and their behaviors and psychology. This helps us to educate victims/survivors about why these crimes happened and to not blame themselves, better develop recovery programs, and to help victims avoid scams in the future. At times this may sound like blaming the victim, but it does not blame scam victims, we are simply explaining the hows and whys of the experience victims have.
These articles, about the Psychology of Scams or Victim Psychology – meaning that all humans have psychological or cognitive characteristics in common that can either be exploited or work against us – help us all to understand the unique challenges victims face before, during, and after scams, fraud, or cybercrimes. These sometimes talk about some of the vulnerabilities the scammers exploit. Victims rarely have control of them or are even aware of them, until something like a scam happens and then they can learn how their mind works and how to overcome these mechanisms.
Articles like these help victims and others understand these processes and how to help prevent them from being exploited again or to help them recover more easily by understanding their post-scam behaviors. Learn more about the Psychology of Scams at www.ScamPsychology.org
Psychology Disclaimer:
All articles about psychology and the human brain on this website are for information & education only
The information provided in this article is intended for educational and self-help purposes only and should not be construed as a substitute for professional therapy or counseling.
While any self-help techniques outlined herein may be beneficial for scam victims seeking to recover from their experience and move towards recovery, it is important to consult with a qualified mental health professional before initiating any course of action. Each individual’s experience and needs are unique, and what works for one person may not be suitable for another.
Additionally, any approach may not be appropriate for individuals with certain pre-existing mental health conditions or trauma histories. It is advisable to seek guidance from a licensed therapist or counselor who can provide personalized support, guidance, and treatment tailored to your specific needs.
If you are experiencing significant distress or emotional difficulties related to a scam or other traumatic event, please consult your doctor or mental health provider for appropriate care and support.
Also read our SCARS Institute Statement about Professional Care for Scam Victims – click here to go to our ScamsNOW.com website.
Thank you for your comment. You may receive an email to follow up. We never share your data with marketers.